Manchester City boss Mark Hughes fears he will be priced out of a move for striker Roque Santa Cruz, who Blackburn are valuing at £18m. But Hughes is set to make a £17m take-it-or-leave-it offer for Santa Cruz , which could be enough to seal the transfer. And City may make improved offers for West Ham pair Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy but say they have not bid for Newcastle ‘keeper Shay Given.

Chelsea no to Spurs

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has told Tottenham to forget about signing England midfielder Joe Cole.

Real bid

Real Madrid want to seal a £15m deal for Wigan’s Antonio Valencia.

Villarreal goalie

Manchester United and Chelsea face a summer battle for Villarreal’s £12m-rated ‘keeper Diego Lopez.

Kranjcar not moving

Arsenal’s hopes of signing midfielder Niko Kranjcar have been dashed after Portsmouth insisted he will not be leaving the club in January.

Smith deal called off

Newcastle’s Alan Smith has been told his swap deal with Middlesbrough striker Mido is off while winger Charles N’Zogbia says Arsenal is his first-choice destination .